Legislature(2023 - 2024)SENATE FINANCE 532

04/16/2024 09:00 AM Senate FINANCE

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* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ SB 168 COMPENSATION FOR WRONGFULLY SEIZED GAME TELECONFERENCED
Heard & Held
-- Testimony <Invitation Only> --
+ SB 215 TEACHERS: BOARD CERTIFICATION INCENTIVE TELECONFERENCED
Heard & Held
-- Testimony <Invitation Only> --
+ Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled TELECONFERENCED
                  SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE                                                                                      
                       April 16, 2024                                                                                           
                          9:02 a.m.                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
9:02:30 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CALL TO ORDER                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Stedman   called  the  Senate   Finance  Committee                                                                    
meeting to order at 9:02 a.m.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
MEMBERS PRESENT                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Senator Bert Stedman, Co-Chair                                                                                                  
Senator Click Bishop                                                                                                            
Senator Jesse Kiehl                                                                                                             
Senator Kelly Merrick                                                                                                           
Senator David Wilson                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
MEMBERS ABSENT                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
Senator Lyman Hoffman, Co-Chair                                                                                                 
Senator Donny Olson, Co-Chair                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
ALSO PRESENT                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
Senator  Jesse  Bjorkman,   Sponsor;  Raymond  Matiashowski,                                                                    
Staff to  Senator Bjorkman; Joe Felkl,  Legislative Liaison,                                                                    
Department  of Fish  and  Game;  Lisa Purinton,  Legislative                                                                    
Liaison,   Department  of   Public   Safety;  Lisa   Parady,                                                                    
Executive    Director,    Alaska     Council    of    School                                                                    
Administrators; Kelly Manning,  Deputy Director, Division of                                                                    
Innovation   and   Education   Excellence,   Department   of                                                                    
Education and Early Development.                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
PRESENT VIA TELECONFERENCE                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Ted Spraker,  Former Chair, Alaska Board  of Game, Soldotna;                                                                    
Rebecca  Schwanke, Self,  Glennallen; Ryan  Scott, Director,                                                                    
Division of  Wildlife Conservation,  Department of  Fish and                                                                    
Game;  Colonel Bernard  Chastain, Director,  Alaska Wildlife                                                                    
Troopers  Division,  Department   of  Public  Safety;  Sarah                                                                    
Pinsky,   Senior  Director,   Policy,  National   Board  for                                                                    
Professional Teaching Standards.                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
SUMMARY                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
SB 168    COMPENSATION FOR WRONGFULLY SEIZED GAME                                                                               
                                                                                                                              
          SB 168 was heard and HELD in Committee for                                                                            
          further consideration.                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
SB 215    TEACHERS: BOARD CERTIFICATION INCENTIVE                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
          SB 215 was heard and HELD in Committee for                                                                            
          further consideration.                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Stedman discussed the agenda.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
SENATE BILL NO. 168                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
     "An Act relating to wrongfully seized game."                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
9:04:07 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  JESSE  BJORKMAN,  SPONSOR, explained  that  SB  168                                                                    
dealt  with instances  in which  game had  wrongfully seized                                                                    
from hunters by  the Department of Public  Safety (DPS), and                                                                    
then  found   to  be   legal.  He   hoped  there   would  be                                                                    
compensation in  the form  of comparable  game meat,  but if                                                                    
not  possible the  goal  of  the bill  was  to provide  cash                                                                    
compensation.  He  discussed  the training  and  preparation                                                                    
necessary  for a  hunt. He  discussed animal  identification                                                                    
for the purposes of legal harvest.                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
Senator  Bjorkman   mentioned  Alaskas    selective  harvest                                                                    
regulations   based  on   horn  composition   and  mentioned                                                                    
disagreements  between  hunters   and  law  enforcement.  He                                                                    
described  a scenario  in which  game was  seized while  the                                                                    
court addressed the  matter, during which time  the meat was                                                                    
given to another  person. Even if a hunter was  in the right                                                                    
and  the seized  animal was  legal,  the meat  could not  be                                                                    
returned. He  relayed that hunters  had described  being put                                                                    
on the  roadkill  list  as compensation for  seized game. He                                                                    
asserted that  trading a  roadkill animal  for a  well cared                                                                    
for  hunted  animal  was not  just  compensation.  The  bill                                                                    
sought  to  provide  monetary compensation  for  the  seized                                                                    
animal,  so  a  hunter  could purchase  meat  of  their  own                                                                    
choosing.                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
9:07:12 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
RAYMOND MATIASHOWSKI,  STAFF TO SENATOR BJORKMAN,  read from                                                                    
a Sectional Analysis (copy on file):                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
     Section 1: Amends AS 16.05  by adding a new section, AS                                                                    
     16.05.197,  which  compensates  hunters  who  have  had                                                                    
     certain  edible animals  seized  by the  state and  are                                                                    
     later  found not  guilty of  violating the  statute the                                                                    
     animal   was   seized   under.  The   value   of   this                                                                    
     compensation comes from  the restitution schedule found                                                                    
     in AS 16.05.925(b).                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
     Section 2:  Amends AS  16.05.925(b), by  increasing the                                                                    
     penalty imposed  on hunters who unlawfully  take any of                                                                    
     the animals listed in the subsection.                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
9:08:06 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Senator  Kiehl observed  that the  restitution schedule  was                                                                    
increased for  animals that  were eaten  as well  as animals                                                                    
that were  not eaten.  He noticed that  in the  section, all                                                                    
bears  were included.  He noted  that  not all  bears had  a                                                                    
requirement to salvage edible meat.  He asked if the sponsor                                                                    
had looked at differentiating getting  paid only if the hide                                                                    
and skull and claws were confiscated.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Senator  Bjorkman  relayed  that   he  had  considered  many                                                                    
circumstances when  deciding whether or not  to include bear                                                                    
in  the  legislation. After  discussion  it  was decided  to                                                                    
include bear.  He discussed eating  bear. He thought  it was                                                                    
difficult for hides to be cared  for properly if not under a                                                                    
hunters   watchful care  and supervision.  He  thought if  a                                                                    
hunters  animal  could not  be satisfactorily  restored, the                                                                    
hunter deserved  compensation if  the animal  was wrongfully                                                                    
seized.                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Stedman asked  for the sponsor to  help clarify the                                                                    
difference between  edible black  bears and brown  bears. He                                                                    
was not  aware of  anyone that ate  brown bears,  wolves, or                                                                    
wolverines. He asked the sponsor for more detail.                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Senator  Bjorkman  did not  know  anyone  that ate  wolf  or                                                                    
wolverine,  but knew  that many  people ate  brown bear.  He                                                                    
noted that  all bears should  be cooked well. He  noted that                                                                    
as he  updated the  restitution schedule to  accommodate for                                                                    
inflation, the  amounts for the entire  restitution schedule                                                                    
were adjusted.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Stedman  asked if  there  was  testimony from  the                                                                    
department to  indicate the  frequency of  wrongfully seized                                                                    
game and the geographic spread.                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
Senator   Bjorkman   thought   there  had   been   differing                                                                    
recollections.  He  thought  there  had  been  instances  of                                                                    
animal  seizure  in  the  Fall   of  2021  that  were  legal                                                                    
according to  many in the  hunting community.  The situation                                                                    
had caused the Board of Game  to take action to change moose                                                                    
harvest  regulations  on  the Kenai  Peninsula.  He  thought                                                                    
invited testifiers  could provide  perspective on  the issue                                                                    
and the reasoning for the boards action.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
9:12:53 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
TED SPRAKER,  FORMER CHAIR, ALASKA  BOARD OF  GAME, SOLDOTNA                                                                    
(via  teleconference),  spoke  in  favor  of  the  bill.  He                                                                    
supported  the   bill  primarily  because  of   fairness  to                                                                    
hunters.  He  relayed  that  he had  worked  as  a  wildlife                                                                    
biologist for  the Department  of Fish  and Game  (ADFG) for                                                                    
over 28  years and had  served on the  Board of Game  for 18                                                                    
years. He thought the bill  addressed an important issue. He                                                                    
mentioned   previous  testimony   that  iterated   that  the                                                                    
occurrence of  improper game seizure  happened only  once or                                                                    
twice per  year. He  was puzzled  and thought  the instances                                                                    
happened more frequently.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Mr.  Spraker continued  that  if a  hunter  took an  illegal                                                                    
moose,  the  hunter  was  fined  and  could  be  subject  to                                                                    
equipment seizure  and payment  of restitution.  He pondered                                                                    
the improper seizure of game  and thought restitution should                                                                    
be paid  to the  hunter. He  thought compensation  of $1,800                                                                    
was  not  sufficient.  He  knew  that  the  Alaska  Wildlife                                                                    
Troopers  did their  best to  compensate  hunters that  were                                                                    
subject to  wrongful game  seizure by  moving the  hunter up                                                                    
the  roadkill list.  He  mentioned that  in  his many  years                                                                    
working for the department, he  had dealt with many roadkill                                                                    
issues  and  had found  that  the  majority of  the  animals                                                                    
suffered  significant damage.  He discussed  the process  of                                                                    
caring  for game  and described  the difficulty  of applying                                                                    
proper  field dressing  techniques to  a roadkill  moose. He                                                                    
considered  that roadkill  was not  a substitute  for hunted                                                                    
game.                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
9:16:46 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REBECCA  SCHWANKE,  SELF, GLENNALLEN  (via  teleconference),                                                                    
testified  in  support  of  the bill.  She  was  a  lifelong                                                                    
Alaskan, avid  hunter, and had  taught hunter  education for                                                                    
20 years. She  was a wildlife biologist that  had worked for                                                                    
ADFG and as a consultant.  She described that she had worked                                                                    
as an expert witness for  Dall sheep cases. She acknowledged                                                                    
the work  of Alaska State  Troopers. She discussed  cases of                                                                    
wrongfully  seized  game,  and   the  need  for  appropriate                                                                    
compensation. She  discussed the  prospect of  losing hunted                                                                    
meat through the improper seizure.  She thought the troopers                                                                    
needed to make more of an  effort to properly keep and store                                                                    
seized game.  She did not  think roadkill was  an acceptable                                                                    
alternative  for compensation.  She thought  the bill  was a                                                                    
remedy.                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Stedman asked  how many  times  that the  proposed                                                                    
bill would have been implemented over the previous decade.                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
9:21:11 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
RYAN  SCOTT, DIRECTOR,  DIVISION  OF WILDLIFE  CONSERVATION,                                                                    
DEPARTMENT  OF FISH  AND  GAME  (via teleconference),  noted                                                                    
that  the   instance  of  mistaken  game   seizure  happened                                                                    
predominantly with  sheep and  moose. He  noted that  he had                                                                    
been a  biologist for  many years and  had been  involved in                                                                    
some  related  cases. He  thought  the  situations had  been                                                                    
limited  and estimated  that  there were  two  to three  per                                                                    
year.                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Stedman   asked  how  people  in   Southeast  were                                                                    
compensated for wrongfully confiscated moose.                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Scott answered  that if there was a  court proceeding in                                                                    
the near term, another seized moose would be given.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Stedman asked for more  data. He was unaware of any                                                                    
moose  being run  over by  a car  or boat  in Southeast.  He                                                                    
thought more definitive answers  were needed and thought the                                                                    
species and location could be identified.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Mr.  Scott identified  that road  kills  of moose  primarily                                                                    
occurred in Haines and Yakutat.                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
Senator Kiehl  asked if the  department was in  the position                                                                    
to  seize game  meat, or  if the  task was  taken on  by law                                                                    
enforcement.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Scott relayed that typically  ADFG was the first contact                                                                    
with  hunters, and  if there  was a  question, the  troopers                                                                    
would be contacted for guidance.                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
9:25:52 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
JOE  FELKL,  LEGISLATIVE  LIAISON, DEPARTMENT  OF  FISH  AND                                                                    
GAME,  noted that  DPS  also  had its  own  fiscal note.  He                                                                    
addressed a new  fiscal note from DFG,  OMB Component Number                                                                    
473.  He  noted  that  if  a  person  was  found  guilty  of                                                                    
illegally taking  game, the court may  impose restitution to                                                                    
the  state  in  the   amounts  under  AS  16.05.925(b).  The                                                                    
restitution  payments were  transferred  into  the Fish  and                                                                    
Game Fund in  accordance with statue. The  deposits were the                                                                    
focus  of  the fiscal  note.  The  department anticipated  a                                                                    
positive revenue impact  as a result of  the legislation. If                                                                    
enacted, the bill  would increase the amount  of revenue per                                                                    
restitution payment  for the species  listed by  55 percent.                                                                    
The   amount   received   by  the   Division   of   Wildlife                                                                    
Conservation would also increase by 55 percent.                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
Mr.  Felkl noted  that the  Analysis section  of the  fiscal                                                                    
note  included restitution  amounts identified  in different                                                                    
years, with  a low of $30,000  and a high of  over $100,000.                                                                    
The  increase could  range from  approximately $20,000  to a                                                                    
high  of approximately  $60,000. Based  on the  uncertainty,                                                                    
the  department  submitted  an  indeterminate  fiscal  note,                                                                    
however it  estimated a  net positive  due to  the increased                                                                    
restitution amounts.                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
9:28:40 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Senator   Wilson  asked   how  an   individual  would   seek                                                                    
restitution under the  bill, or if a lawsuit  would be filed                                                                    
for restitution.                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
Mr.  Felkl  noted that  the  Committee  Substitute from  the                                                                    
Senate Resources Committee (SRES)  clarified the matter, and                                                                    
the  restitution  would  be upon  the  court  overturning  a                                                                    
guilty conviction or  having a finding a  person not guilty.                                                                    
The  departments  position  was  that  restitution would  be                                                                    
automatic.  He thought  the Court  system could  address the                                                                    
question.                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Senator Wilson  mentioned the  expense of  a sheep  hunt and                                                                    
pondered restitution of only $2000  as proposed in the bill,                                                                    
which might not cover the airfare  for a hunt. He asked if a                                                                    
person could engage in a  civil suit against the department,                                                                    
and how often such a thing occurred.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Felkl deferred the question to another agency.                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
9:30:40 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
LISA  PURINTON, LEGISLATIVE  LIAISON,  DEPARTMENT OF  PUBLIC                                                                    
SAFETY, addressed a new fiscal  note from DPS, OMB Component                                                                    
2746. She identified that the  department had a small fiscal                                                                    
note  for  $10,800.  The  cost  was  derived  from  research                                                                    
compiled by Alaska Wildlife Troopers, from taking a five-                                                                       
year average  of cases  in which  an individual  with seized                                                                    
game was  found not  guilty. The results  showed one  to two                                                                    
cases   per  year.   The  bill   would   require  that   the                                                                    
compensation would  be required to  pay for the  seized game                                                                    
and using  adjusted restitution rates for  two muskoxen. She                                                                    
noted  that  there had  been  no  data  on cases  that  were                                                                    
appealed or  set aside.  She believed  that there  was staff                                                                    
from the Alaska Wildlife Troopers available for questions.                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Stedman  asked if Ms. Purinton  had indicated there                                                                    
had been one case per year.                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
Ms. Purinton  relayed that there  had been one to  two cases                                                                    
per year based on the five-year average.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Stedman   asked  about  the  frequency   that  the                                                                    
compensation  would be  implemented  and  asked for  history                                                                    
about the data gathering for the five-year average.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
9:33:12 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
COLONEL   BERNARD   CHASTAIN,  DIRECTOR,   ALASKA   WILDLIFE                                                                    
TROOPERS   DIVISION,  DEPARTMENT   OF  PUBLIC   SAFETY  (via                                                                    
teleconference),   indicated  that   when  considering   the                                                                    
impacts of  the bill,  the department  had done  a five-year                                                                    
lookback to  cases that were  found not guilty in  court. He                                                                    
continued  that Alaska  Wildlife Troopers  were required  by                                                                    
law to  seize animals that  were determined to be  not legal                                                                    
in the  field. Animals  were seized  before a  legal process                                                                    
was underway. Once  through the court process,  a case could                                                                    
be dismissed. Within the five-year  lookback, there had been                                                                    
one  to  two cases  per  year  found not  guilty,  including                                                                    
seizures of moose, sheep, caribou,  and other animals across                                                                    
the state. He thought it  was important to note that statute                                                                    
required  law  enforcement  to  seize  an  animal  that  was                                                                    
thought to be illegally taken.                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Stedman thought  the  reasons  for animal  seizure                                                                    
were  clear. He  asked  if Mr.  Chastain  could provide  the                                                                    
committee  with  the  data   from  the  five-year  lookback,                                                                    
including species and location.                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
Col. Chastain agreed to provide the information.                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
Senator   Kiehl  asked   about  types   of  violations   and                                                                    
associated   trooper  policy   that  would   include  animal                                                                    
seizure.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Col. Chastain  relayed that there were  different categories                                                                    
of  violations  and  crimes  within  statute.  Some  of  the                                                                    
violations  were  listed  on the  bail  schedule,  which  he                                                                    
likened to  a traffic  ticket. He  mentioned a  citation for                                                                    
failure to  include evidence of  animal sex, after  which an                                                                    
animal would  not be  seized. He noted  that typically  if a                                                                    
violation was  not on the  bail schedule, the  default crime                                                                    
was a misdemeanor, and the  troopers would determine whether                                                                    
the animal would be seized.  He mentioned examples of a sub-                                                                    
legal  moose,  or a  cow  moose  taken  out of  season,  and                                                                    
described scenarios in which an animal would be seized.                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
9:38:25 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Senator  Bjorkman appreciated  the  clarification from  Col.                                                                    
Chastain  regarding the  one to  two instances  per year  of                                                                    
cases going to  court and not including cases  that had been                                                                    
dismissed. He noted  that it was his intention  for the bill                                                                    
to  include  language  for  cases  that  were  dismissed  or                                                                    
dropped. He  contended that a  hunter should not have  to go                                                                    
all  the  way  through  a  court  process  to  get  property                                                                    
returned in order to receive just compensation.                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
Senator  Bjorkman explained  that  the reason  the bill  was                                                                    
coming forward  was to ensure that  hunters were compensated                                                                    
appropriately,  and  for  hunters to  be  presumed  innocent                                                                    
until  proven guilty.  He mentioned  instances on  the Kenai                                                                    
Peninsula in the fall of 2021  in which a hunters  moose was                                                                    
seized and  later charges  were dropped,  or the  animal was                                                                    
determined to be  legal. He emphasized that it  was just for                                                                    
the  hunter to  receive compensation,  and many  hunters had                                                                    
not. He discussed actions by ADGF  in which a panel of three                                                                    
biologists determined  whether a moose was  legal. The Board                                                                    
of Game  had changed  ceiling requirements to  eliminate the                                                                    
problem  and   minimize  the  number  of   moose  that  were                                                                    
wrongfully taken.  He wanted hunters to  be duly compensated                                                                    
when animals were taken that should not have been.                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Stedman  thought the bill  mentioned a  court order                                                                    
to  pay  restitution.  He asked  if  the  sponsor  suggested                                                                    
reverting  to an  earlier version  of the  bill, whether  he                                                                    
supported  amending the  bill, or  whether he  supported the                                                                    
SRES version of the bill.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Senator Bjorkman  recounted that  there had  been discussion                                                                    
in the SRES  Committee that indicated a desire  for a change                                                                    
to be made in order for  hunters to be compensated when they                                                                    
were not found guilty.                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Stedman asked about the bill language.                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
Senator  Bjorkman relayed  that the  bill did  not currently                                                                    
have  the language,  but he  would support  an amendment  to                                                                    
ensure  that hunters  were compensated  fairly if  they were                                                                    
not found guilty.                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
SB  168  was  heard  and   HELD  in  Committee  for  further                                                                    
consideration.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
SENATE BILL NO. 215                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
     "An Act relating to teacher incentive payments for                                                                         
     national board certification; and providing for an                                                                         
     effective date."                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
9:42:17 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Senator Jesse  Bjorkman, Sponsor, explained that  SB 215 was                                                                    
designed to raise pay for  the states  most highly qualified                                                                    
teachers  and encourage  other educators  to  engage in  the                                                                    
best professional  development in their field  and to become                                                                    
nationally  board certified.  He cited  studies that  showed                                                                    
that  national  board-certified   teachers  obtained  better                                                                    
educational   outcomes  and   were  better   teachers  after                                                                    
completing   the  steps   of  the   four-part  certification                                                                    
process.  The National  Board of  Certified  Teachers was  a                                                                    
board  that  required to  undergo  a  rigorous and  personal                                                                    
training program.                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Senator  Bjorkman continued  that  teachers  in the  program                                                                    
were  required  to  demonstrate content  knowledge  and  the                                                                    
ability to  teach to every student.  He highlighted elements                                                                    
of the  program that included recordings  and reflection for                                                                    
improvement, submission  of student work, and  the provision                                                                    
of  video  teaching samples.  He  thought  that the  process                                                                    
showed teachers reflecting on  teaching methods and success.                                                                    
He  emphasized the  importance  of  teacher recruitment  and                                                                    
retention, and of improving educational outcomes.                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
9:44:22 AM                                                                                                                    
AT EASE                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
9:44:43 AM                                                                                                                    
RECONVENED                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Stedman relayed that  the director for the National                                                                    
Board  for  Professional  Teaching Standards  (NBPTS)  would                                                                    
give a presentation.                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
9:45:03 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
SARAH PINSKY,  SENIOR DIRECTOR,  POLICY, NATIONAL  BOARD FOR                                                                    
PROFESSIONAL   TEACHING   STANDARDS  (via   teleconference),                                                                    
relayed   that   NBPTS   was  an   independent,   non-profit                                                                    
organization was founded  more than 30 years  ago and worked                                                                    
to   advance   accomplished   teaching.  She   discussed   a                                                                    
presentation  entitled "Using  National Board  Certification                                                                    
to Strengthen the Teaching Workforce" (copy on file).                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Ms.  Pinsky   showed  slide  2,   What   is  National  Board                                                                    
Certification.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
Ms. Pinsky read slide 3, By Teachers, For Teachers:                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
     National Board Certification is a voluntary advanced                                                                       
     credential   that   signifies   the   teacher   is   an                                                                    
     instructional expert in their grade and subject level.                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
Ms. Pinsky  noted that the  certification was  recognized as                                                                    
the gold  standard in teacher certification.  She emphasized                                                                    
that  the    professional  expertise of  educators  was  the                                                                    
foundation of  everything NBPTS did. She  continued that the                                                                    
standards  that were  the  foundation  of the  certification                                                                    
process  were   developed  by   panels  of   expert  teacher                                                                    
practitioners that  came to  consensus on  what accomplished                                                                    
teachers should know and be able to do in the certification                                                                     
areas. There were 25 certification areas in each level.                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
Ms. Pinsky showed slide 4, "Peer-reviewed, Performance-                                                                         
based":                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
     This  student-centered  process  requires  teachers  to                                                                    
     demonstrate  evidence  of  the   impact  they  have  on                                                                    
     student learning through                                                                                                   
     ?samples of student work,                                                                                                  
     ?videos of their teaching, and                                                                                             
     ?deep reflection and analysis of their practice.                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
     They  must  also  demonstrate  their  understanding  of                                                                    
     their  grade-appropriate  subjects  through  a  content                                                                    
     knowledge exam.                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
Ms. Pinsky showed slide 5, "Maintenance of Certification:                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
     ?Maintenance of Certification (MOC)  is the pathway for                                                                    
     National  Board  Certified  Teachers  (NBCTs)  to  keep                                                                    
     their certification active.                                                                                                
     ?Successfully meeting  MOC requirements will  extend an                                                                    
     NBCT's certificate five years.                                                                                             
     ?The process is designed  to ensure that NBCTs continue                                                                    
     to  grow professionally  while substantially  impacting                                                                    
     student learning.                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
9:47:34 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Ms. Pinsky showed slide 7, "Impact on Teaching":                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
     Teachers who  engage with the National  Board standards                                                                    
     report making  specific changes to  their instructional                                                                    
     practice including:                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
     •  Adjusting  lesson  plans   to  meet  the   needs  of                                                                    
        individual students                                                                                                     
     • Gaining and/or deepening knowledge in content areas                                                                      
    • Using data in new ways to assess student progress                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
Ms. Pinsky showed slide 8, "Impact on Students":                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
     More than a decade of  research from across the country                                                                    
     confirms  that   students  taught  by   National  Board                                                                    
     Certified  Teachers  (NBCTs)   learn  more  than  other                                                                    
     students.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
     ?Estimates  of  the increase  in  learning  are on  the                                                                    
     order   of  an   additional  one   to  two   months  of                                                                    
     instruction.                                                                                                               
     ?A 2017  Mississippi study found  Kindergarten students                                                                    
     taught by an NBCT are  31% more likely to be proficient                                                                    
   on the Kindergarten Readiness Assessment (see image).                                                                        
     ?Students  of  NBCTs  demonstrate  evidence  of  deeper                                                                    
     learning.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
Ms.  Pinsky   showed  slide  9,  "Impact   on  the  Teaching                                                                    
Profession":                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
     •  National Board  Certified  Teachers  remain  in  the                                                                    
        profession longer than their colleagues.                                                                                
     •  National Board Certified Teachers are more likely to                                                                    
        host student teachers than other teachers.                                                                              
     •  New teachers  who  are  mentored by  National  Board                                                                    
        Certified Teachers exhibit improvement and generate                                                                     
        additional student learning                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
Ms. Pinsky cited that in  the most recent year, the turnover                                                                    
rate  for board  certified teachers  was about  one-third of                                                                    
the average rate.                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Ms.  Pinsky looked  at slide  11,  "Leveraging Policy.   She                                                                    
relayed that  she would discuss state  policy approaches and                                                                    
reasoned that  policy could  be a  critical lever  and could                                                                    
create  the  right conditions  for  teachers  to pursue  and                                                                    
achieve national  board certification. She  referenced three                                                                    
kinds of  policies: financial  incentives, fee  support, and                                                                    
support  programs for  teachers pursuing  certification. She                                                                    
cited that certification cost approximately $1,900.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
Ms. Pinsky looked  at slide 12, which showed  a national map                                                                    
identifying 29 states that  offered financial incentives for                                                                    
certified teachers.  She noted that states  that were wildly                                                                    
different with regard to population,  size, and politics all                                                                    
found the incentive to be worthwhile.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Ms.   Pinsky  turned   to   slide   13,  "Salary   Incentive                                                                    
Structures":                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
     Increase for all NBCTs                                                                                                     
          Example: North Carolina                                                                                               
          NBCTs placed on salary schedule 12% above base                                                                        
          pay.                                                                                                                  
          Example: Wyoming                                                                                                      
          NBCTs earn an annual $4,000 stipend.                                                                                  
     Increase for NBCTs in high-need schools                                                                                    
          Example: California                                                                                                   
     Both  increase for all NBCTs and additional increase                                                                       
     for NBCTs in targeted schools                                                                                              
          Example: Utah                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
9:52:53 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Ms.  Pinsky  reviewed  slide 14,  and  addressed  Delaware's                                                                    
policy  whereby board-certified  teachers  earned a  stipend                                                                    
equal  to 12  percent of  base salary.  She cited  that over                                                                    
about four  years there had  been a significant  increase in                                                                    
the  number   of  national  board-certified   teachers.  She                                                                    
anticipated further growth.                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
Ms.  Pinski   showed  slide  15,  which   addressed  program                                                                    
highlights  of   Texas'  financial  incentives.   The  state                                                                    
allocated  between  $3,000  and  $9,000  for  each  national                                                                    
board-certified teacher.  Teachers could  get closer  to the                                                                    
$9,000 by teaching  at rural schools or schools  with a high                                                                    
percentage of  low socio-economic  students. The  state also                                                                    
reimbursed for the initial cost  of certification as well as                                                                    
the maintenance of certification  that was needed every five                                                                    
years.  She   identified  a  pattern  similar   to  that  of                                                                    
Delaware.                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Senator Bishop  asked if Ms.  Pinsky was aware of  any state                                                                    
universities  that  taught  to the  national  certification,                                                                    
whereby   graduates   would    have   the   national   board                                                                    
certification.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
Ms.  Pinsky  explained  that  the  standards  were  somewhat                                                                    
advanced for students that were  pursuing completion of pre-                                                                    
service  preparation  programs.   She  noted  that  programs                                                                    
aligned standards  or taught the baseline  framework but was                                                                    
not  certain  if Alaska  had  adopted  standards for  future                                                                    
licensure.   She  noted   that   the   standards  were   for                                                                    
accomplished practitioners  and were  more aligned  to those                                                                    
with  more expertise  and experience  than a  teacher coming                                                                    
right out of college.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Senator Bishop  asked for Ms. Pinsky's  professional opinion                                                                    
regarding a timeline for new  teachers to apply for national                                                                    
certification.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
Ms. Pinsky  noted that previously teachers  were required to                                                                    
have three  years of experience  before beginning  the board                                                                    
certification process.  Recently the  rule had  changed, and                                                                    
teachers  were allowed  to start  the process  in the  first                                                                    
year of teaching,  while still being required  to have three                                                                    
years of teaching experience to complete the certification.                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
9:58:18 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
LISA PARADY,  EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR,  ALASKA COUNCIL  OF SCHOOL                                                                    
ADMINISTRATORS,  introduced  herself  and relayed  that  the                                                                    
Alaska  Council  of  School  Administrators  (ACSA)  was  in                                                                    
support of  the bill. The  council felt  that SB 215  was an                                                                    
important policy  bill for education. The  council supported                                                                    
the  certification because  it believed  that every  Alaskan                                                                    
student   deserved  a   qualified  effective   teacher,  and                                                                    
promoting national board certification  was a proven pathway                                                                    
to the goal. She  referenced ACSAs  joint position statement                                                                    
(copy  not on  file) that  listed priorities  that education                                                                    
leaders   had  identified.   She   noted  that   recruiting,                                                                    
retaining,  and  preparing  qualified educators  was  a  top                                                                    
priority.                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Ms.  Parady  pointed  out that  research  demonstrated  that                                                                    
teacher quality  was the most effective  school-based factor                                                                    
in student  achievement. She considered that  the bill would                                                                    
aid with the  goal of student achievement.  She referenced a                                                                    
study by the Journal  of Research on Education Effectiveness                                                                    
that  found that  students  with  a board-certified  teacher                                                                    
produced gains of up to a month  and a half to two months of                                                                    
additional  learning  when compared  to  non-board-certified                                                                    
teachers  with  similar   experiences.  She  continued  that                                                                    
national  board certification  promoted  teacher quality  by                                                                    
encouraging   teachers  to   reach  the   highest  available                                                                    
benchmarks in the field.                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Ms. Parady noted that as  of January 20, 2022, Alaska ranked                                                                    
44th  in the  nation,  with  only 200  (or  2.7 percent)  of                                                                    
teachers  with  national  board certification.  The  council                                                                    
believed the  state should encourage teachers  to pursue the                                                                    
certification. She  noted that a majority  of states already                                                                    
did so, and  noted that once there were  incentives, about 2                                                                    
percent of  teachers pursued  the certification  every year.                                                                    
She highlighted  that teachers  with the  certification took                                                                    
on  enhanced leadership  roles  and  mentored new  teachers,                                                                    
which also improved new teacher quality.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
10:01:46 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Ms. Parady  discussed the significant cost  of obtaining the                                                                    
national certification,  which was  rigorous and  took three                                                                    
years  to  complete. She  noted  that  the process  required                                                                    
taking  examinations at  an authorized  testing site,  which                                                                    
was only available  at 12 testing centers in  the state. She                                                                    
considered that  by offering a  bonus for teachers  that had                                                                    
completed  the certification,  the state  could ensure  that                                                                    
certification was financially accessible to all teachers.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Ms.  Parady emphasized  that the  incentive was  a retention                                                                    
mechanism. She  relayed that ACSA  and its  members strongly                                                                    
encouraged  the  development  of a  comprehensive  statewide                                                                    
program  to   prepare,  attract,  and   retain  high-quality                                                                    
diverse educators and  professionals. She thought increasing                                                                    
the share of the states teachers with the certification                                                                         
was  a critical  step  to improve  Alaskas   school for  all                                                                    
students. She  added that  ACSA was  especially appreciative                                                                    
that the  bonus would be a  state-funded incentive available                                                                    
to all districts, rather than relying on district budgets.                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
10:03:54 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Senator Bishop  pondered why the  state would not  work with                                                                    
the  University  system  to incorporate  the  curriculum  in                                                                    
order to start the process of obtaining the certification.                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Ms.  Parady  noted  that  Alaska   used  benchmarks  in  the                                                                    
University  to align  with  the  certification. She  thought                                                                    
that it  generally took  a couple of  years for  teachers to                                                                    
practice in the classroom before  being ready to take on the                                                                    
rigors of  the program. She  likened the certification  to a                                                                    
Ph.D.  program and  thought the  University pre-service  was                                                                    
preparing students to teach at  the highest levels, but that                                                                    
board certification  would add an additional  layer of rigor                                                                    
that teachers  may not  be ready for  right from  the start.                                                                    
She  agreed that  elements of  the  certification should  be                                                                    
included in teacher education.                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
Senator  Bishop asked  if  Ms. Parady  knew  of any  Alaskan                                                                    
districts that were currently  offering the certification to                                                                    
teachers.                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Ms.  Parady  thought  there   some  districts  offering  the                                                                    
certification. She mentioned work  on the North Slope, which                                                                    
had the certification as part  of its agreement. She thought                                                                    
some  districts  offered  the  opportunity  because  of  the                                                                    
strong  research that  showed  the impact  on students.  She                                                                    
thought  given the  current  financial  situation in  school                                                                    
districts;  the  certification  would  not  be  the  highest                                                                    
priority for a district. She  thoguht state funding would be                                                                    
a high priority in being  able to offer the certification to                                                                    
all school districts.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
10:08:42 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
KELLY MANNING,  DEPUTY DIRECTOR, DIVISION OF  INNOVATION AND                                                                    
EDUCATION  EXCELLENCE,  DEPARTMENT  OF EDUCATION  AND  EARLY                                                                    
DEVELOPMENT,   discussed  a   new  fiscal   note  from   the                                                                    
Department   of  Education   and   Early  Development,   OMB                                                                    
Component  2796. She  identified that  the CS  had presented                                                                    
additional costs.  She continued  that the  note   showed an                                                                    
estimate  of  $1,456,000  for  year  one,  with  anticipated                                                                    
growth over time. She identified  that the bill provided for                                                                    
an incentive payment of $5,000  for each teacher that held a                                                                    
current   and  valid   national   board  certification.   In                                                                    
addition,  the bill  noted costs  incurred to  achieve board                                                                    
certification.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
Ms. Manning  continued that the board  certification cost an                                                                    
average of $1,900  per candidate, with $475 for  each of the                                                                    
four components. The  amount could be higher  if an educator                                                                    
needed to retake any of  the components. Additional costs to                                                                    
achieve  board  certification   may  include  supplies.  She                                                                    
referenced required  videos and videography  supplies. There                                                                    
were  retake  fees  for the  certification  components,  and                                                                    
there  could be  travel requirements.  The assessment  sites                                                                    
for the state  were mostly at the  states  universities. She                                                                    
noted that there  could be travel required  to observe other                                                                    
teachers.   She  mentioned   registration   fees.  All   the                                                                    
components  had an  estimated average  of about  $10,000 for                                                                    
full certification.                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
Ms.  Manning  noted  that   states  with  similar  incentive                                                                    
programs that  covered the cost of  certification were found                                                                    
to have  a 2 percent  increase, which was factored  into the                                                                    
fiscal note.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
10:12:19 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Ms. Manning continued  to address the fiscal  note. She made                                                                    
note of  an anticipation  of $1,075,000  for grants  in year                                                                    
one  to  cover  the  incentivization of  $5,000  per  board-                                                                    
certified  teacher  and $6,000  in  legal  fees. The  amount                                                                    
increased over each year based  on the anticipated increases                                                                    
in certified  educators. She  listed a  cost of  $375,000 in                                                                    
year one  for covering reimbursement of  board certification                                                                    
costs.  She  noted that  the  costs  were estimates  without                                                                    
knowing  the  number of  teachers  that  would pursue  board                                                                    
certification.  The estimates  were  based  on other  states                                                                    
that had funded the costs and incentives.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Stedman  asked  if the  department  supported  the                                                                    
program.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Ms.  Manning  relayed  that   the  Teacher  Recruitment  and                                                                    
Retention   Working  Group   had  determined   that  teacher                                                                    
incentives was  a potential avenue for  increasing certified                                                                    
teachers. She  thought looking  at different  incentives was                                                                    
an outflow of the working groups work.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Stedman  considered that  looking at  something and                                                                    
implementing it were  two different things. He  asked if the                                                                    
department had a position.                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Ms. Manning relayed  that the department was  neutral on the                                                                    
particular approach  in the  bill, but  definitely supported                                                                    
incentivization of getting teachers  in the door and getting                                                                    
them to stay in positions.                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Senator Wilson mentioned  recertification for teachers every                                                                    
five  years. He  asked if  the national  board certification                                                                    
would qualify  for recertification  in lieu  of professional                                                                    
development classes,  either for recertification or  for pay                                                                    
increases and bonuses.                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
Ms.  Manning agreed  to research  Senator Wilson's  question                                                                    
and get back to the committee with the information.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
Senator  Kiehl  mentioned a  comment  about  an increase  in                                                                    
board certified teachers  in states that funded  the cost of                                                                    
the certification. He asked if Ms. Manning had examples.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Ms. Manning noted  that she did not have  the information at                                                                    
hand but would  get back to the committee.  She thought that                                                                    
Maine was one of the states in question.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Senator  Kiehl  appreciated  that the  department  had  done                                                                    
diligent   work  to   see  how   much  more   effective  the                                                                    
legislation could be.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
10:16:11 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Senator  Bjorkman thought  the  committee had  heard of  the                                                                    
many  benefits,  proven  through  research,  that  indicated                                                                    
students who learned  from national board-certified teachers                                                                    
learned  more  and learned  more  effectively.  He spoke  to                                                                    
Senator Bishop's  questions pertaining to why  the state did                                                                    
not  start   training  teachers  on  the   material  at  the                                                                    
university  level. He  explained that  teachers in  training                                                                    
programs had much to learn  about pedagogy and how to handle                                                                    
the everyday  rigors of teaching, which  often involved more                                                                    
than  just  instruction  of students.  He  thought  teachers                                                                    
needed some  on-the-job training to  be ready for  the level                                                                    
of training involved in the board certification.                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
Senator Bjorkman  discussed the in-depth content  related to                                                                    
certified subject areas, and the  required teaching video to                                                                    
reflect active teaching and  demonstrate skills developed in                                                                    
the  first   years  of  teaching.   He  asserted   that  the                                                                    
certification being discussed was  difficult and was for the                                                                    
most skilled  teachers. He emphasized that  when the process                                                                    
was incentivized and the state  invested in the process, the                                                                    
results would  come. He discussed  the benefits  of teachers                                                                    
going through  the process together  in job-alike  groups to                                                                    
become  better together.  He  described  collective  teacher                                                                    
efficacy,  which  he cited as  the primary factor  that made                                                                    
teachers better as a team.                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
SB  215  was  heard  and   HELD  in  Committee  for  further                                                                    
consideration.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Stedman  relayed that  there would be  no afternoon                                                                    
meeting. He discussed the agenda for the following day.                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
ADJOURNMENT                                                                                                                   
10:20:53 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
The meeting was adjourned at 10:20 a.m.                                                                                         

Document Name Date/Time Subjects
SB168 Explanation of Changes Ver. A to Ver. R.pdf SFIN 4/16/2024 9:00:00 AM
SB 168
SB 168 Ver. R Sectional Analysis 3.27.24.pdf SFIN 4/16/2024 9:00:00 AM
SB 168
SB 168 Ver. R Sponsor Statement 3.27.24.pdf SFIN 4/16/2024 9:00:00 AM
SB 168
SB 215 NBCT Incentives by state 02.07.2024.pdf SEDC 2/14/2024 3:30:00 PM
SFIN 4/16/2024 9:00:00 AM
SB 215
SB 215 Research LAUSD NBCT report 02.07.2024.pdf SEDC 2/14/2024 3:30:00 PM
SFIN 4/16/2024 9:00:00 AM
SB 215
SB 215 Research NBCT Impact Brief 02.07.2024.pdf SEDC 2/14/2024 3:30:00 PM
SFIN 4/16/2024 9:00:00 AM
SB 215
SB 215 Research NBCT Mississippi Reading Outcomes 02.07.2024.pdf SEDC 2/14/2024 3:30:00 PM
SFIN 4/16/2024 9:00:00 AM
SB 215
SB 215 Research NBCT Retention Information 2020 02.07.2024.pdf SEDC 2/14/2024 3:30:00 PM
SFIN 4/16/2024 9:00:00 AM
SB 215
SB 215 Research NBPTS Certification 02.07.2024.pdf SEDC 2/14/2024 3:30:00 PM
SFIN 4/16/2024 9:00:00 AM
SB 215
SB 215 Sponsor Statement 02.07.2024.pdf SEDC 2/14/2024 3:30:00 PM
SFIN 4/16/2024 9:00:00 AM
SB 215
SB 215 Summary of Changes Version S to Version U 02.26.2024.pdf SEDC 2/26/2024 3:30:00 PM
SFIN 4/16/2024 9:00:00 AM
SB 215
SB 215 Testimony - Received as of 02.17.2024.pdf SEDC 2/19/2024 3:30:00 PM
SFIN 4/16/2024 9:00:00 AM
SB 215
SB 215 Ver U Sectional Analysis 2.2.24.pdf SFIN 4/16/2024 9:00:00 AM
SB 215
SB 215 EDC EED SSA 041224.pdf SFIN 4/16/2024 9:00:00 AM
SB 215
SB 168 DFG DWC 941324.pdf SFIN 4/16/2024 9:00:00 AM
SB 168